The store’s doors will open at 8 a.m. Friday, the same day that Apple’s third-generation iPad will go on sale. An Apple spokeswoman would not say whether all its stores will open at that time on Friday, but an early opening is typical when the company starts selling a new iPad or iPhone model.

The store will have an unusual design that features a glass front, back and roof, similar to one recently opened in New York City. The Highland Village store is currently draped with black cloth that will be removed before it opens. The store’s “back-of-house” area will be on a second level over the Sprinkles cupcake shop next door.

The store will have 160 employees and will be the only area store not in a mall, the spokesperson said. It will include the amenities commonly associated with the popular chain, including the Genius Bar, one-on-one training, group classes and EasyPay, which lets customers buy goods via an app on their iPhones and iPads.

The store will be the second in the Houston region Texas with an area called the briefing room, which is designed for presentations to business customers.

The first 1,000 customers in the store on Friday will get a commemorative T-shirt, the spokesperson said. Chances are that most of those will be buyers in the line that is expected to form for the new iPad, which Apple announced last Wednesday.

The other Houston-area Apple stores are in the Galleria, Memorial City Mall, Baybrook Mall, The Woodlands Mall, Willowbrook Mall and First Colony Mall.